Iran buying Russian AA systems

December 27, 2007 10:00am

Russia plans to boost Iran’s air-defense capability.

The Defense Ministry in Tehran announced Wednesday it would procure an unspecified number of S-300 (SA-10) anti-aircraft batteries from Russia, which would provide a major advantage in fending off any future Israeli or American attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

The S-300 is capable of shooting down planes and missiles as far as 100 miles away, making it superior even to the U.S. Patriot system.

Israeli analysts said the announced sale was a direct result of last month’s U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, which played down Iran’s nuclear program and thus weakened international reluctance to engage the Tehran regime.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to visit Moscow next month to discuss the planned sale and other Middle East issues. Russia has offered to host an Israeli-Syrian peace conference next year.